Top lock and locator for appliance

ABSTRACT

A hinged top of an appliance cabinet is oriented and locked in a closed position by a locator near one corner of the cabinet, a combined top lock and locator near an opposite corner, and a removable locking cone engaging the cabinet and an aperture in the appliance top. The top lock and locator traps a lower flange portion of the top when the top is lowered onto the upper part of the cabinet, and prevents relative lateral and vertical motion of the top with respect to the cabinet. The top lock and locator has an outwardly-canted wing portion which flexes inwardly as the flange contacts it during closing of the top and snaps outwardly when closure is complete. The locking cone may be located beneath or within a key-locked coin box in commercial applications to secure the appliance top against opening by vandals.

United States Patent [191 Christianson et al.

1 Nov. 25, 1975 1 1 TOP LOCK AND LOCATOR FOR APPLIANCE [73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 517,417

[51] Int. Cl EOSC 3/00; A47F 88/22; G07F 1/00 [58] Field of Search 312/100, 284, 291-293, 312/333; 232/15 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,344,442 10/1967 Andrews et a1 312/284 3,837,566 9/1974 McGough 232/15 3,851,942 12/1974 Clayet a1 232/15 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firn1Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A hinged top of an appliance cabinet is oriented and locked in a closed position by a locator near one corner of the cabinet, a combined top lock and locator near an opposite corner, and a removable locking cone engaging the cabinet and an aperture in the appliance top. The top lock and locator traps a lower flange portion of the top when the top is lowered onto the upper part of the cabinet, and prevents relative lateral and vertical motion of the top with respect to the cabinet. The top lock and locator has an outwardly-canted wing portion which flexes inwardly as the flange contacts it during closing of the top and snaps outwardly when closure is complete. The locking cone may be located beneath or within a key-locked coin box in commercial applications to secure the appliance top against opening by vandals.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov.25, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,922,048

TOP LOCK AND LOCATOR FOR APPLIANCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to means for securing the top of an automatic appliance such as a commercial washer in a closed and vandal-proof position.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art locking devices have comprised snapfittings which engage a portion of the flange of a top and hold the flange in a desired relation to the cabinet of the machine. These devices have not generally been sufficiently flexible, resulting in cracking of porcelain on the appliance top adjacent the device. Furthermore, prior art devices were not effective in locking the top to the cabinet since an insufficient portion of the flange of the machine top was captured under the locking part. These defects allowed vandals to disengage an appropriate corner of the top from the locking part and then exert enough force on the open top to defeat other locking devices, to obtain access to the inner parts of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a top locking and locating arrangement employing two primary parts located at substantially diagonally opposite corners of the cabinet adjacent the top of the machine. A top lock and locator (constituting a first primary part) is fastened to the cabinet top near the front of the machine and opposite the side where the top is hinged to the cabinet. As the top moves on its hinges downwardly toward the cabinet, a lower flange of the top slides over and locks beneath a deflectable wing portion of the lock and locator. The wing is flexible enough to avoid bending the flange of the top to an extent where the porcelain finish will be cracked, yet it provides positive engagement of the top by the lock locator. The body portion of the lock locator contacts the inner portion or edge of the flange to prevent lateral movement of the top inwardly across the cabinet, and the deflectable wing portion will prevent the top from moving vertically upwardly. A cooperating locator or stop on the opposite front corner of the cabinet prevents lateral movement of the top in the opposite direction.

Once the top is in place, a locking cone (the second primary part) is placed over a stud extending upward from the cabinet in the area of the corner diagonally across from the top lock and locator but forwardly of the hinges. The locking cone is secured in place by a lock nut. The tapered portion of the locking cone fits into a circular aperture in the top of machine and as the lock nut is tightened the taper of the locking cone securely engages the top.

With the top lock and locator and the locking cone both in place, movement of the top with respect to the cabinet is severely restrained. In coin operated machines having a keylocked coin box, the locking cone may be placed inside the coin box, thus requiring a key for initiation of any opening process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a general perspective view of the upper part of a commercial automatic washer, with parts broken away with portions of the top locating and locking devices shown in dashed lines and in cut-away views.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cut-away section of one corner of the machine of FIG. 1, showing additional details of the top lock and locator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cut-away portion of another corner of the machine of FIG. 1, showing additional details of a locator in cooperation with the top lock and locator of FIG. 2.

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spring clip attached to a flange of the cabinet for additionally securing the top to the cabinet.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view, partially in section and partially cut-away, of the component parts of the locking cone assembly, prior to closing of the top.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the appliance top and locking cone in closed and assembled positions.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the fastening means for the top lock and locator device.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through the top lock and locator, showing its attachment to the cabinet flange and its capturing of the lower flange of the top.

FIG. 9 shows in partial cross section the locator which is located opposite the top locator of FIG. 8 and spaces the opposite edge of the top in proper relation to the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In appliances, particularly automatic washers and dryers, it is desirable to positively locate the appliance top on the appliance cabinet. In addition, it is necessary for safety reasons and to comply with various code requirements to provide fastening of the top to the cabinet such that a tool is required to release or remove the top. Further, in some cases, as with coin-operated machines for example, there is a need to be able to actually lock the top to the cabinet to prevent unauthorized access to the machines internal components and to deter vandals.

On the drawings, a commercial washing machine shown generally at 10 has a cabinet 11 having a rear side Ila, right side 11b, front side 11c, and a left side 11d. Atop the cabinet 11 is a hinged top 12 having an upper surface 13 and a door 14 giving normal access to a tub or washing chamber of the machine. A coin box 15 is provided with a coin slide 15a for receiving coins of a pre-set variety to activate the machine and a coin tray 15b which stores the coins paid into the machine. Access to the interior of the coin box is provided by a hinged side which is secured by a key lock I511. The rear of the cabinet 11 and top 12 are hinged together by means of hinges 16. The sides Ila-11d end upwardly in inwardly-turned horizontal flanges 17a through 17d, respectively. The cabinet top 12 has corresponding inwardly turned lower flanges 18a through 18d.

Top locking and locating means are shown generally in FIG. 1. Spring clips 20,20 are affixed to the upper front cabinet flange 17c and engage the lower front flange of the cabinet top 12. A locator 21 is affixed to the right hand flange 17b near its junction with the front flange 17c and abuts the lower flange 18b of the top 12. A top lock and locator device 22 is affixed to the cabinet 11 at the left cabinet flange 17d near its junction with the front flange 17c and a portion of top lock and locator device 22 overlies the flange 18d of the appliance top 12. A locking cone assembly 23 is provided within the coin box 15, affixed to the right cabinet flange 17b and extending through the top 13 of the cover 12.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, the top lock and locator 22 comprises a body portion 24 formed substantially as a rectangular solid. The body portion 24 is bored and counter-bored as at 25 and 26 to receive a threaded bolt 27 having a head 28 received in the counter-bore 26 and a stud portion 29 received in the bore 25 and receiving a threaded nut 30 and washer 31 to bind the body portion 24 to the flange 17d of the cabinet 11.

Deflectable wing means shown in FIG. '7 as a flexible wing portion 32 is attached to one of the sides of the body 24 at its end opposite the flange 17d. The wing 32 extends generally downwardly and outwardly from the attachment point on the body portion 24 to an edge 34 which extends generally parallel to the flange 17d and is vertically spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to pass the lower flange 18d of the top 12 when the top is in its closed position. In the embodiment shown the top is spaced a distance above the cabinet flange 17d by a spacing member 35 attached to body portion 24 of the top locking and locating device 22.

The device 22 also functions as a locating member, having a surface 36 facing the cabinet side lllld and parallel thereto which functions as locating means for the top. The lower flange 18d of the top 112 has an inner edge 37d which may abut the surface 36 and thereby be restrained from movement to the right in the orientation of FIGS 2 or 8. Thus the surface 36 and the locator 21 act in combination to provide lateral spacing means for engaging the top 12 and orienting it with respect to the cabinet lit.

The top 12 is restrained from lateral motion to the left in the orientation of FIGS. 1., 3, or 9 by a locator 21 which is attached to the flange 17b opposite the flange on which the lock and locator device 22 is attached. The locator 21 has a downwardly outward conical taper 38 which forces the top 12 to the right by abutting an edge 37!) of the top flange 13b and holds the top in alignment with the cabinet 1E. The locator 21 is attached to the flange 17b by means of an integral split collar 39 (FIG. 9) which protrudes through an aperture 40 in the flange and expands outwardly to secure a spacing member 41 of the locator 21 against the flange 17b.

Fastening means for selectively securing the top to the cabinet is shown in FIGS. 3 and 66 as a locking assembly 23 including a locking cone 42, a stud 43, and a locking nut 44. The stud 4-3 is attached to the upper cabinet flange 17b diagonally opposite the lock-locator means 22, and extends through an aperture 45 in the upper surface 13 of the cabinet top 12 during and after closure of the top 12. When the top 12 is in its closed and locked position, the locking cone 42 may be placed over the stud 43 and the locking nut 44 screwed down over the stud 43 to force the locking cone 42 against the walls of the aperture 45 to hold the cover 12 in locked relation to the cabinet 11. The locking cone 42 and the locking nut 44 constitute gripping means for engaging the cabinet top adjacent the stud. The locking cone 42 and the lock nut 44 are installed through side c of the coin box 15 after the side has been swung away by unlocking the box by means of the key lock 6 15d. A flange 46 on the upper end of the locking cone 42 provides further security against opening of the top 12, should the lock and locator device 22 be disabled.

The stud 43 is firmly attached to the flange 17b by means of a head 47 which abuts the lower surface of the flange 17b and a lock nut and washer 48 and 49 on the upper side of the flange 17b.

In practice, the top 12 of the appliance 10 may be closed and latched in one step and locked in a second step. From anopen position, the top 12 is simply lowered or pivoted on its hinges 16 until the spring clips 20,20 engage the flange 18c of the top. The top is spaced laterally between the locator 21 and the top lock and locator 22. The locator 21 and the wing32 on the top lock and locator 22 will orient the top 12 latera distance sufficient for the outer edge of the flange 18d to clear the wing 32.

Once the top is in its closed and latched position, the

door to the coin box 15 is unlocked and the locking cone 42 and nut 44 are dropped and threaded over the stud 43. The nut 44 is tightened down over the stud and locking cone 42 to prevent raising of the top 12. Then the door 150 is locked by means of key lock 15d.

Opening of the top 12 after such a locking procedure is readily accomplished by opening the door 15d of the.

coin box 15, unscrewing the nut 44, and removing the locking cone 42 from the stud 43. Then the front right corner of the cover 12 is raised, disengaging the flange 18c from the spring clips 20 and the flange 1812 from the locator 21. The front of the cover 12 is then twisted slightly to the left to free the flange 18d from under the.

edge 34 of the wing 32 attached to the body portion 24 of the top lock and locator device 22.

These last operations cannot be performed unless the locking cone 42 has been removed from the stud 43, since the top 12 does not have sufficient flexibility to avoid the locator 21 and the spring clamps 20 unless that cone has been removed. Even if the flange 18d is disengaged from the top lock and locator device 22, the top 12 cannot be significantly opened to expose the interior of the appliance to vandalism unless the top is substantially destroyed.

Although various modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege are claimed are defined as follows:

1. Top lock and locating means for an appliance having a four-sided cabinet and a cabinet top mountedon a first of said cabinet sides, said top lock and locating means comprising:

deflectable wing means associated with a second cabinet side which is adjacent said first cabinet side for i obstructing vertical movement of said top with respect to said cabinet;

fastening means associated with a third cabinet side for selectively securing said top in adjacent relation to said cabinet and cooperating with said deflectable wing means to locate said top on and lock said top to said cabinet; and

containment means overlying said fastening means and limiting access thereto to authorized personnel.

2. Top lock and locating means for an appliance including a cabinet and a top hingedly mounted thereon, said top lock and locating means comprising:

lateral spacing means for contacting said top and orienting said top with respect to said cabinet;

deflectable wing means engageable with said top for obstructing vertical movement of said top with respect to said cabinet;

fastening means for selectively securing said top in adjacent relation to said cabinet and cooperating with said wing means to lock said top to said cabinet; and

access control means overlying and protecting said fastening means except when opened by access means.

3. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 1, wherein said appliance top includes an inwardlyextending lower flange portion and wherein said deflectable wing means comprises a downwardly-sloping wing member attached atop said cabinet,

said wing member being deflected inwardly from an undeflected position by said flange portion as said top is lowered into adjacent relationship with said cabinet until said flange portion clears the distal end of said wing member whereupon said wing member springs back to its undeflected position to be engageable with said flange portion to obstruct vertical movement of said top away from said cabinet.

4. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 1,

wherein said fastening means comprises:

a stud affixed to said cabinet and projecting above said top; and

means for gripping said stud above said top and engaging said top adjacent said stud.

5. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 4, wherein said stud is threaded, and wherein said gripping means comprises:

a locking cone slidably received on said stud for engaging said appliance top through a corresponding aperture in said top, said locking cone including a radially-extending shoulder portion of a diameter larger than the diameter of said aperture; and

a threaded nut engageable with said stud and rotatable to increase the force of engagement between said locking cone and said top and thereby fasten said top to said cabinet.

6. In an appliance having a multi-sided cabinet including inwardly directed upper flange portions, a top including lower flange portions corresponding to and facing the upper flange portions of the cabinet, and hinge means for hingedly fastening said top to said cabinet; top lock and locator means for locating and locking said top in place on said cabinet comprising, said top lock and locator means comprising:

releasable fastening means associated with one cabinet side for selectively securing said top to said one cabinet side to restrain relative movement therebetween, and

a lock-locator device associated with another cabinet side opposite said one cabinet side for locating said top with respect to said cabinet and cooperating with said releasable fastening means to lock said top to said cabinet,

said lock-locator device including a body portion fixed to said upper flange of said cabinet providing locating means for contacting a lower flange portion of said top, a wing portion deflectable from an undeflected position by a lower flange portion of said top in response to movement of said top into adjacent relationship with said cabinet until said lower flange portion of said top clears the distal end of said wing portion whereupon said wing portion springs back to its undeflected position to be engageable with said lower flange portion to obstruct movement of said top away from said cabinet.

7. In an appliance having a four-sided cabinet including upper flange portions corresponding to each of said sides, a top including lower flange portions corresponding to and facing said upper flange portions, hinge means associated with a first of said sides for hingedly fastening said top to said cabinet, and spring means affixed to the upper flange portion of a third of said cabinet sides opposite said first cabinet side for engaging a corresponding lower flange portion of said top; top lock and locating means for orienting and locking said top in place on said cabinet, said top lock and locating means comprising: 7

releasable fastening means associated with a second of said cabinet sides adjacent said first side for selectively securing said top to said second cabinet side to thereby restrain relative movement between said top and said cabinet;

locator means on said second cabinet side and space from said fastening means for contacting a lower flange portion of said top to locate and limit lateral movement of said top with respect to said cabinet;

a lock-locator means associated with a fourth of said cabinet sides opposite said second cabinet side for cooperating with said locator means to orient said top laterally with respect to said cabinet and for cooperating with said releasable fastening means to lock said top to said cabinet,

said lock-locator means including a body portion for contacting a lower flange portion of said top, a deflectable wing portion integral with said body portion and yieldable to said lower flange portion of said top in response to movement of said top toward said cabinet and engageable with said lower flange portion of said top to obstruct movement of said top away from said cabinet, and means for attaching said body portion to said cabinet.

8. The improvement for an appliance as claimed in claim 7 wherein the releasable fastening means comprises:

a surface of said top defining a circular aperture in said top adjacent said second cabinet side,

a stud fixed to the upper flange portion of said second cabinet side, said stud member being aligned with and protruding through said aperture,

a locking cone received over said stud member and in said aperture, and

means for engaging said stud and causing said cone thereon to grip said top through said aperture, clamping said top to said cabinet.

9. In an appliance,

a casing,

a cover overlying said casing and positioned for pivabove the level of said cover,

oting movement with respect thereto at one mara nut threadedly engageable with said stud and ginal edge of said cover and said casing, adapted to lock said cover and said casing in firm afirst locking means between said cover and said casassembly with one another after said cover is in ing disposed opposite said marginal edge and comsaid closed position, prising deflectable wing means and rigid obstrucand a coin box disposed on said cover to receive said tion means constituted to lock said cover and said stud and said nut within the interior thereof and casing in snap-action interference lock when said having a security locking means to afford concover is pivoted into adjacency with said casing, in trolled access to the interior of said coin box, a closed position, 10 whereby the cover can be lifted only upon prior access a second locking means between said cover and said by authorized personnel to said second locking means casing comprising a stud extending upwardly from and said nut. said casing and through a portion of said cover and 

1. Top lock and locating means for an appliance having a four-sided cabinet and a cabinet top mounted on a first of said cabinet sides, said top lock and locating means comprising: deflectable wing means associated with a second cabinet side which is adjacent said first cabinet side for obstructing vertical movement of said top with respect to said cabinet; fastening means associated with a third cabinet side for selectively securing said top in adjacent relation to said cabinet and cooperating with said deflectable wing means to locate said top on and lock said top to said cabinet; and containment means overlying said fastening means and limiting access thereto to authorized personnel.
 2. Top lock and locating means for an appliance including a cabinet and a top hingedly mounted thereon, said top lock and locating means comprising: lateral spacing means for contacting said top and orienting said top with respect to said cabinet; deflectable wing means engageable with said top for obstructing vertical movement of said top with respect to said cabinet; fastening means for selectively securing said top in adjacent relation to said cabinet and cooperating with said wing means to lock said top to said cabinet; and access control means overlying and protecting said fastening means except when opened by access means.
 3. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 1, wherein said appliance top includes an inwardly-extending lower flange portion and wherein said deflectable wing means comprises a downwardly-sloping wing member attached atop said cabinet, said wing member being deflected inwardly from an undeflected position by said flange portion as said top is lowered into adjacent relationship with said cabinet until said flange portion clears the distal end of said wing member whereupon said wing member springs back to its undeflected position to be engageable with said flange portion to obstruct vertical movement of said top away from said cabinet.
 4. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises: a stud affixed to said cabinet and projecting above said top; and means for gripping said stud above said top and engaging said top adjacent said stud.
 5. Top lock and locator means as defined in claim 4, wherein said stud is threaded, and wherein said gripping means comprises: a locking cone slidably received on said stud for engaging said appliance top through a corresponding aperture in said top, said locking cone including a radially-extending shoulder portion of a diameter larger than the diameter of said aperture; and a threaded nut engageable with said stud and rotatable to increase the force of engagement between said locking cone and said top and thereby fasten said top to said cabinet.
 6. In an appliance having a multi-sided cabinet including inwardly directed upper flange portions, a top including lower flange portions corresponding to and facing the upper flange portions of the cabinet, and hinge means for hingedly fastening said top to said cabinet; top lock and locator means for locating and locking said top in place on said cabinet comprising, said top lock and locator means comprising: releasable fastening means associated with one cabinet side for selectively securing said top to said one cabinet side to restrain relative movement there-between, and a lock-locator device associated with another cabinet side opposite said one cabinet side for locating said top with respect to said cabinet and cooperating with said releasable fastening means to lock said top to said cabinet, said lock-locator device including a body portion fixed to said upper flange of said cabinet providing locating means for contacting a lower flange portion of said top, a wing portion deflectable from an undeflected position by a lower flange portion of said top in response to movement of said top into adjacent relationship with said cabinet until said lower flange portion of said top clears the distal end of said wing portion whereupon said wing portion springs back to its undeflected position to be engageable with said lower flange portion to obstruct movement of said top away from said cabinet.
 7. In an appliance having a four-sided cabinet including upper flange portions corresponding to each of said sides, a top including lower flange portions corresponding to and facing said upper flange portions, hinge means associated with a first of said sides for hingedly fastening said top to said cabinet, and spring means affixed to the upper flange portion of a third of said cabinet sides opposite said first cabinet side for engaging a corresponding lower flange portion of said top; top lock and locating means for orienting and locking said top in place on said cabinet, said top lock and locating means comprising: releasable fastening means associated with a second of said cabinet sides adjacent said first side for selectively securing said top to said second cabinet side to thereby restrain relative movement between said top and said cabinet; locator means on said second cabinet side and space from said fastening means for contacting a lower flange portion of said top to locate and limit lateral movement of said top with respect to said cabinet; a lock-locator means associated with a fourth of said cabinet sides opposite said second cabinet side for cooperating with said locator means to orient said top laterally with respect to said cabinet and for cooperating with said releasable fastening means to lock said top to said cabinet, said lock-locator means including a body portion for contacting a lower flange portion of said top, a deflectable wing portion integral with said body portion and yieldable to said lower flange portion of said top in response to movement of said top toward said cabinet and engageable with said lower flange portion of said top to obstruct movement of said top away from said cabinet, and means for attaching said body portion to said cabinet.
 8. The improvement for an appliance as claimed in claim 7 wherein the releasable fastening means comprises: a surface of said top defining a circular aperture in said top adjacent said second cabinet side, a stud fixed to the upper flange portion of said second cabinet side, said stud member being aligned with and protruding through said aperture, a locking cone received over said stud member and in said aperture, and means for engaging said stud and causing said cone thereon to grip said top through said aperture, clamping said top to said cabinet.
 9. In an appliance, a casing, a cover overlying said casing and positioned for pivoting movement with respect thereto at one marginal edge of said cover and said casing, a first locking means between said cover and said casing disposed opposite said marginal edge and comprising deflectable wing means and rigid obstruction means constituted to lock said cover and said casing in snap-action interference lock when said cover is pivoted into adjacency with said casing, in a closed position, a second locking means between said cover and said casing comprising a stud extending upwardly from said casing and through a portion of said cover and above the level of said cover, a nut threadedly engageable with said stud and adapted to lock said cover and said casing in firm assembly with one another after said cover is in said closed position, and a coin box disposed on said cover to receive said stud and said nut within the interior thereof and having a security locking means to afford controlled access to the interior of said coin box, whereby the cover can be lifted only upon prior access by authorized personnel to said second locking means and said nut. 